Team Manager Operational Readiness & Response - Regional

Greater Wellington; Wellington; On-site; NZD 117,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working policy

Learning and development opportunities

Employee assistance programme

Medical and trauma insurance

Sick leave and Tangihanga leave

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Greater Wellington seeks an exceptional people leader to head the Regional Operational Readiness and Response Team (RORR) in Wellington. You will guide the team to deliver the Group Strategy and Annual Plan, working with multiple councils and partners to strengthen capabilities for complex, large-scale emergencies.

Based in WREMO Thorndon, the role focuses on day-to-day leadership, advising the team and ensuring readiness in high-pressure situations, with a strong emphasis on collaboration

Qualifications

• A proven people leader able to motivate, develop, and support high performing teams.
• Operational leadership experience in crisis situations.
• Experience in project/programme management.
• Strong decision‑making skills with ability to absorb information quickly, assess risks, and act decisively.
• Understanding of how local government operates and emergency management frameworks.
• Experience leading in emergency management (e.g., controller, recovery manager, or similar roles).
• Ability to build senior relationships to achieve a unified approach.
• Must respond calmly and positively to challenging events.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Regional Operational Readiness and Response Team on day‑to‑day work plans, projects, and initiatives.
• Provide guidance, direction, and support to the team in a timely and professional manner.
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders to deliver the Wellington Region strategy and annual plan.
• Support the Head of Operational Readiness and Response in achieving readiness and response outcomes.
• Represent the team in multiagency emergency management settings.

Skills

People leadership

Operational leadership

Project/programme management

Decision making

Local government awareness

Emergency management experience

Team leadership under pressure

Stakeholder relationship management

Job description

We are looking for an exceptional people leader to take on a critical role in Wellington's emergency management leadership team. This is not just about managing processes-it's about leading people in high-pressure situations, ensuring the team is prepared, capable, and ready to respond when it matters most.

Based in our WREMO Thorndon (Wellington) office, we're looking for a Team Manager to lead the Regional Readiness and Response Team which has been established to work closely with the nine councils of the Wellington Region to strengthen operational capability and capacity to respond to complex, multiagency, large scale emergencies in the Wellington Region.

About the role:

The purpose of this role is to support the Head of Operational Readiness and Response by leading the Regional Operational Readiness and Response Team (RORR). The RORR team's purpose is to work with a range of partners and key stakeholders to deliver the outcomes set out in the Wellington CDEM Group Strategy 2025-35, Group Plan and WREMO's Annual Plan.

The Team Manager RORR is responsible for supporting the RORR team on a day-to-day basis across the full range of work programmes, projects, plans and initiatives by providing advice, guidance, direction, expertise and support to the team in a timely, professional and effective manner.

Skills and experience required:

• A proven people leader able to motivate, develop, and support high performing teams.
• Operational leadership experience- you can demonstrate leading others in

crisis situations.

• Experience in project/programme management.
• Strong decision-making skills- able to absorb information quickly, assess risks, and take decisive action.
• Understand the machinery of local government and understands the role council plays in the emergency management system.
• Previous experience in leading in emergency management - through either a previous or current role and/or experience. For example, experience as either a controller or recovery manager, been a function manager, or previous role/experience included emergency management (FENZ, Police, NZTA, Engineer, Military, MPI, MBIE, etc)
• Experience leading high performing teams, sometimes in stressful and ambiguous environments and capable to switch leadership style depending on the situation.
• Experience managing senior relationships to achieve a unified approach.

Able to respond calmly and positively to challenging event.

What we offer:

• Work to suit your life and whānau with our flexible working policy.
• We'll encourage you to grow and prosper with a range of learning and development opportunities, internal secondments and career progression
• Your wellbeing is our priority - we'll provide medical and trauma insurance, support through our employee assistance programme or Manawa Ora providers, generous sick leave, along with Tangihanga leave and support
• We want you to have a sense of belonging, where you can reflect your personal and cultural identity in the way that you work.
• Social clubs, staff networks and a friendly and inclusive culture.
• Great working environments.

For further information, please contact Carrie McKenzie, Head of Operational Readiness and Response 021 357 564.

Applications close: 5.00pm, Sunday 15 November 2025

However, we will be shortlisting applications as they come in and will interview as soon as possible to secure the right person.

The remuneration for this position, inclusive of all benefits, is $116,974 to $175,461, with a midpoint of $146,218. Starting remuneration will depend on the skills and experience of the successful applicant.

Agency applications won't be considered at this time.